“RAMADHAN MELTS THE RUST OF THE WORLD”: The Special Poems Anthology Edited by Leni Marlina (PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA)
Edited By Leni Marlina
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/1/
RAMADHAN MELTS THE RUST OF THE WORLD
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
We were once mere shadows,
on the earth’s surface,
moving without form,
living without light.
But then Ramadhan arrived,
like a revelation splitting time,
like a verse shattering mountains—
and we burned, burned, burned.
The smoke of sins rose from our pores,
the sweat of transgressions evaporated in prostration.
Until all that remained was blackened charcoal—
a heart scorched down to its roots.
And when the dew of piety descended from the sky,
it found soil ready to be sown.
We were no longer shadows,
but fields awaiting the seeds of faith to grow,
hoping that Ramadhan would melt the rust of the world,
praying with all our hearts for forgiveness,
to the Lord, the Creator of the Universe.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/2/
LAILATULQADAR
A Poem by Zulkifli Abdy
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
As I count my breaths, drawing prayer beads one by one,
In the whispers of dhikr, in the silence of Ramadan’s night,
A night greater than a thousand months.
I long to wet my prayer mat with tears,
Reciting words of repentance.
Allah promises mercy and forgiveness,
And the gates of paradise are unveiled.
The night crawls further into its depths,
While the moon hides behind withered leaves.
The wind’s roar seems trapped in the spell of the night,
Greeting the soul’s yearning,
Welcoming Lailatulqadar.
Banda Aceh, 2025
———————————————
Zulkifli Abdy is a senior writer and poet, born in Jambi and residing in Aceh since 1970. A graduate in Communication Studies, he has pursued writing autodidactically since his youth. He has produced articles and poetry with a strong literary spirit. For him, writing is not merely an activity but a means to pour out emotions, replacing the pages of a daily journal.
/3/
A Night More Ancient Than Light
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Before the stars learned to shine,
before time began its flow,
this night was written in Lauhul Mahfudz,
a secret found only by the wakeful.
The heavens open their eyes,
angels descend in silence,
embracing the earth’s lament,
scattering divine words like dew
into hearts that tremble.
A thousand months dissolve into shadow,
for tonight descends the Eternal Light,
reviving what was lifeless in the soul,
erasing all that was lost in time.
And at the edge of dawn,
all names are inscribed,
all fates are sealed,
and only those who surrender
will taste eternity.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/4/
The Gurindam of Ramadan
A Poem by Saunir Saun
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
If you are one who walks in faith,
surely you heed Ramadan’s call.
If you are one who walks in faith,
surely you grasp its sacred fast.
If you have heard the sacred verse,
surely you know where it is found.
If you have pondered on its words,
surely you feel their weight profound.
If you have listened to its wisdom,
surely you recall its opening line:
“Kutiba alaikumush-shiyaam.”
If those words echo in your heart,
surely you know their solemn command:
“Fasting is ordained upon you.”
If you grasp the weight of duty,
surely you fear to turn away.
If you know its holy purpose,
surely you embrace its sacred days.
If you seek the heights of piety,
surely you strive with heart and soul.
If you know that faith is honored
by those who rise to meet its goal.
If you know this path was chosen
for all who came in days before,
surely you will doubt no longer,
but trust in what your Lord has swore.
If you still abandon fasting,
you cast aside the light bestowed.
If you know Ramadan’s blessings,
surely you let no moment go.
If you know the Night of Power
hides within this sacred time,
surely you will chase its wonder,
eager, longing, heart inclined.
If you know one act of worship
gains the worth of seventy,
surely you will fill this month
with deeds of true sincerity.
If you know this month is patience,
leading to the gates of heaven,
surely you will train your soul
to endure and be forgiven.
If you know its mercy flows,
a river vast of grace untold,
surely you will not forsake it,
but let its warmth embrace your soul.
If you know that time is fleeting,
and this month comes but once a year,
surely you will hold it dearly,
lest regret replace your cheer.
If these verses find your heart,
surely fasting brings you light.
My Home, West Sumatra, INDONESIA, February 27th, 2025
——————————————
Wishing you a blessed Ramadan.
May forgiveness embrace us all
——————————————
Saunir Saun is a writer and retired lecturer from the Department of English Language and Literature, FBS, Universitas Negeri Padang, and Universitas Muhammad Yamin Solok. He was awarded Prolific Poet of the Year 2023 by Satu Pena Sumbar. He is known for his book Goresan Puisi di Hari Tua and the novel Lelaki yang Berhijrah. Additionally, he has published seven volumes of poetry collections titled 55 Puisi-Puisi Berhikmah (Vol. 1-7) and has written hundreds more unpublished poems.
/5/
The Return of Ramadhan
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Ramadan returns, and the devil is chained—
yet why does unrest linger in our souls?
Are these shackles of our own design,
forged in the furnace of fear,
fastened with nights bereft of prayer?
We take the tasbih—
one bead, one breath—
entrusting our burdens to the sacred Name,
until our arms grow light,
our minds are unshackled,
and our hearts find their way home.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/6/
Reciting the Quran in Ramadhan
A Poem by Oka Swastika Mahendra
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
A sacred moon,
a tide of grace,
the call to prayer resounds sublime,
its melody a heaven’s hymn,
its echo a mercy divine.
O weary soul,
parched and yearning,
quench thy thirst in the river of verses,
drink deep the wisdom,
rejoice in light,
let His mercy be thy guide.
The scales of mercy tip in favor,
every letter, a dawn of blessings,
every word, a river of grace.
Tenfold the goodness,
a sea of reward—
recite, though thy tongue may falter,
chant, though thy breath be weak,
for even a trembling voice
reaps a treasure beyond compare.
The devils scatter,
cast afar—
for the verses descend like spears of light,
piercing the gloom,
banishing darkness,
bringing peace upon the home.
Let not silence claim thy dwelling,
let not neglect eclipse thy night.
Raise thy voice in remembrance,
“Ya Karim,” O Most Generous,
illuminate the chambers of thy soul.
For those who keep faith,
salvation dawns—
on the Day of Reckoning,
the Quran shall intercede,
its light a shield,
its words a plea before the Throne.
Lo, the nights are adorned
with the melody of devotion,
and the hearts that bow
are lifted high.
The Book of Light,
a balm, a guide,
a lamp upon the path—
a mercy vast,
a refuge pure,
for souls that seek,
for hearts that mourn.
No home shall crumble
where it is recited,
no sorrow shall linger
where its verses dwell.
Darkness shall flee,
grief shall dissolve,
and angels shall spread their wings,
watching over the steadfast ones,
whispering prayers of peace.
Yogyakarta, INDONESIA,
March 10th, 2025
———————————–
Oka Swastika Mahendra, born in Yogyakarta in 1958, is a dedicated artist and poet, whose soul has been nurtured by the realms of theater, literature, and visual arts. Since 1979, he has been an active member of Teater Alam, while also contributing to Gores Warna, Royal House Cultural Activity, and the esteemed Satupena DIY.
His literary craftsmanship spans across dramatic scripts and poetry, with notable works including Lesungan, Ki Bagus Rangin, Roro Jonggrang, Ontran-Ontran Balung Buto, Intrik di Sangiran, and Menjaga Warisan. His poetic endeavors find a home in anthologies such as Demonstrasi, Aku Melihat Bumi Dari Langit, Membaca Bali, Membaca Banyuwangi, and Membaca Indramayu (forthcoming).
Having embarked on academic pursuits in the Faculty of Literature at Gadjah Mada University, he later completed his studies in Geography Education at Yogyakarta State University. His literary journey has taken him beyond national borders, including a distinguished writing residency in Penang, Malaysia.
After dedicating years as an educator at SMA Negeri 6 and SMA Negeri 1 Yogyakarta, he has now returned to his first calling—immersing himself in the world of art and literature, breathing life into words that bridge the heavens and the earth.
/7/
When the Night of Decree Descends
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Beyond Ramadan, we were once like a ruined book,
our pages torn by time,
our ink faded by heedlessness.
But in this sacred month, Lailatul Qadr descends with His Word,
erasing the hardened stains upon our hearts,
inscribing faith with light.
Each rak’ah sharpens His letters,
each dhikr mends the tattered scroll.
Until, at the end of this holy month,
we are no longer a forgotten tale,
but a revelation engraved upon the sky of the soul.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/8/
Ramadan is a Memory
A Poem by Chania Ditarora
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Memories whirl as weekends fade,
a flood of recollections surges,
swelling with hopes once misplaced
in the fleeting hands of mortal desires.
Yet time flows,
seeping through the crevices of life,
nourishing the path it weaves—
further it flows, clearer it becomes,
not merely sustaining hope,
but sprouting a deeper awareness:
Ramadan has passed,
leaving behind a sweetness,
a memory vast as the heavens,
a billion megabytes of surrender
to the One alone.
Central Lombok, 22 Ramadan 1446H / March 22th, 2025
————————-‐——————
Chania Ditarora is the pen name of Darwan Kania, a dedicated Islamic schoolteacher in Central Lombok. He is an active writer of poetry, short stories, and opinion pieces, regularly contributing to local newspapers and media. His published works include Ratapan Anak Negeri (2017, FAM Publishing).
/9/
Our Prostration
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Beyond Ramadan, we often live
like broken threads—
tangled, fragile, scattered across time.
Yet in these sacred nights,
the Hand of God weaves us together.
Our prostrations are strands entwined,
our prayers the knots that strengthen.
And when the first dawn of Shawwal kisses our skin,
we are no longer shreds,
but a cloth spun from the silence of the night—
a garment ready to be worn by piety.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/10/
The Month of Love
A Poem by Dilla, S.Pd.
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
At twilight’s gate, the crescent moon whispers prayers,
the lanterns of Ramadan flicker awake,
softly singing,
“Ramadan Kareem, the Noble Month,
the season of mercy is near.”
The veil of night is drawn aside,
rekindling the souls once dim.
“Ramadan Kareem, a moon of love.”
Restless hearts now overflow with grace,
true joy blossoms in this sacred time,
a witness eternal,
a symbol of hope.
Bukittinggi, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, March 5th, 2025
——————————————
Dilla, S.Pd. was born in Bukittinggi in 1981. She currently teaches at SMPN 2 Bukittinggi and has published six solo books along with numerous anthologies. Her works appear in various print and online media, both domestically and internationally.
/11/
The Summit That Bows Again
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Before Ramadhan, we climbed the hills of arrogance,
building castles of praise,
etching our names upon the stones of pride.
But in this month, hunger and thirst strike us low.
Walls of vanity crumble,
roofs of conceit are swept away by the wind of supplication.
And at the peak,
nothing remains but an open prayer mat,
waiting for our foreheads
to return to the earth.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/12/
A Song of Harmony in the Homeland
A Poem by Ahkam Jayadi
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
In a village by the river’s edge,
a mosque and a church stand side by side,
not far from a vihara’s golden glow,
witnesses to time’s gentle unfolding—
proof that difference need not breed distance.
In Ramadan’s dusk,
the church prepares the iftar meal,
lending a hand to their fasting neighbors.
On Christmas Eve,
Muslim youths guard the church doors,
so prayers may rise without fear.
At Vesak’s dawn,
the temple’s bells ring softly,
offering prayers that do not silence one another.
They live in one rhythm,
walking different paths, reading different books,
yet their hands remain clasped
in a sacred promise called brotherhood.
In this land,
difference is not a chasm,
but a bridge where hearts meet.
Makassar, South Sulawesi,
INDONESIA, 2025
—————————————-
Ahkam Jayadi is a legal scholar residing in Makassar and a member of Satu Pena Makassar.
/13/
THE FASTING DRY BRANCH
Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Before Ramadhan, perhaps
we are just dry branches,
cracked by sins, brittle from excessive indulgence.
But fasting comes as roots embracing our bodies.
It absorbs arrogance, moistening the soul with piety.
Our days become greener leaves.
Our nights bloom into flowers in prostration.
And at the end of the month, we bear fruit—
not with wealth, not with praise,
but with a heart ripened in faith.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/14/
LAYLA ON THE PATH OF DESTINY
A Poem by Zulkifli Abdy
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
I drift the night into the valley
where my heart dwells in
a silent abyss.
Suddenly, the conversation halts
at a song of silence.
Only you and your shadow
adorn the labyrinth of the night.
This weary soul roams
where I await you.
Among the caravan’s procession,
perhaps they will pause.
I long to tie my prayers
to the pillar of night,
while the sprout of hope
begins to bloom.
Layla…, my love…,
you are truly the night of glory
I have been waiting for.
Z.A – Kutaradja, Banda Aceh, INDONESIA
April 26th, 2022
————————————
Zulkifli Abdy is a senior writer and poet from Jambi who has resided in Aceh since 1970. With a background in Communication Science, he pursued writing as a passion, creating poetry and literary works rich in emotion and depth.
/15/
BECOMING A CLEAR OCEAN
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Outside this month,
perhaps we are like a murky ocean,
our waves carrying hatred,
our depths filled with the rotting corpses of sin.
But Ramadan comes as rain.
Its nights fall as tears.
And each droplet that descends
washes away the mud clinging to our hearts.
Until, in the end,
we become a clear ocean,
where God’s light reflects without blemish.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/16/
WHEN THE HEART IS UNGRATEFUL
A Poem by Lily Yovita
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, Indonesian Literacy Movement Community]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Your creation is no longer perfect
when faith no longer waters the heart.
The body grows weary gathering wealth
to alter what You have made,
chasing fleeting perfection.
The wind of greed whispers ceaselessly,
blowing endless desires
into an ungrateful heart.
When praise is exalted too high,
God’s gifts are torn apart
as if man were the true creator.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA
December 15th, 2024
————————–‐———
Lily Yovita is a poet from West Sumatra known for her insightful works on morality and spirituality. She actively participates in poetry movements and literary discussions across Indonesia.
/17/
THE WIND OF LAILATUL QADR
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Before Ramadhan,
perhaps we are only grains of sand,
scattered among the world,
trampled, forgotten.
But on that night,
the wind of Lailatul Qadr will come
and lift us to the sky.
It moves among the wings of angels,
scattering us into the book of a new destiny.
And when morning comes,
we have become part of an eternal history.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/18/
NEGLIGENCE
A Poem by N’ceria Damanik
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Suddenly,
the sun is at the western horizon.
The day is ending,
and I am late.
The sun begins to set,
its glow fading away,
then disappearing.
I hasten my steps
toward the staircase of night,
before my eyes force themselves shut.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA
January 20th, 2025
——————‐——————
N’ceria Damanik is a poet and writer who captures themes of time, reflection, and human emotion in her works. She is actively engaged in literary discussions and poetry readings.
/19/
A LANTERN SHINING ON THE PATH TO GOD
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
We used to be just shadows.
Walking the world without our own light,
following the darkness that stretched behind us.
But fasting comes as the dawn.
It burns away our ego,
consumes excessive desires,
until all that remains is light.
And now, we are no longer shadows.
We are lanterns shining on the path to God.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/20/
The Unveiled Sky
A Poem by Linda Rosalina
[PPIPM-Indonesia – Community of Inspired Poetry & Thought]
The sky never asks—
who gazes upon its vastness,
whence the voices arise,
or where the wind carries meaning.
It listens without restraining,
gathering raindrops, tempests, and light,
allowing radiance to shine unhindered,
unafraid of losing its boundless space.
Beneath it, the earth whispers,
footsteps merge in silent harmony—
not to erase their colors,
but to celebrate the diversity of time.
For greatness is not in silencing,
but in unlocking gates,
where words shall never wither in solitude,
and thought shall flourish without end.
Padang, Sumatera Barat,
INDONESIA, March 10, 2025
————————————
Linda Rosalina is an academic, physician, and writer deeply committed to both medical sciences and humanistic values. As a lecturer at Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP), she contributes to scientific research and the advancement of medical knowledge. Beyond her professional sphere, Linda nurtures a profound passion for literature, particularly poetry, which she embraces as a medium of reflection and expression. To her, poetry is not merely an art form but a sanctuary for the soul, a vessel for discovering life’s deeper meanings, and a voice for social and humanitarian consciousness.
/21/
A Night More Ancient Than Light
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Before the stars learned their glow,
before time became a flowing stream,
this night was inscribed in the Guarded Tablet,
a secret known only to those who remain awake.
The heavens open their silent eyes,
angels descend with unseen steps,
embracing the weeping earth,
scattering divine verses like dewdrops
into hearts shattered by longing.
A thousand moons are but shadows,
for what descends tonight is The Light,
unquenchable, eternal—
reviving souls once lifeless,
erasing all that was wasted in time.
And as dawn unseals its lips,
every name is written,
every fate is decreed—
and only those who surrender
shall taste eternity.
Padang, Sumatera Barat,
INDONESIA, 2018
/22/
COME IN!
A Poem by Bara Pattyradja
[PPIPM-Indonesia: Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations, Poetry-Pen International Community]
★★★★★★★★★★★★
From a rebellious lexicon,
I send you this poem—
so you may pay off
your longing for words.
Within the innocence of your metaphors,
a world stretches wide,
crafted solely for you.
Come in!
But do not expect
to see my face,
for I am never drawn
within these lines.
The unexpected will find you,
as the sky meets the earth—
when rain breathes
through the foam of the sea.
Listen to the rhythm,
the ticking heartbeats
within each verse,
resonating in your veins.
Squeeze dry your curiosity
that clings to the edges of meaning,
for the blood in my verses
does not offer
the colors of events.
Come in!
I am waiting—
behind the door of language,
still with the same trembling heart.
Flores, 2022
—————————————
Bara Pattyradja was born in Lamahala, East Flores, in 1983. He completed his studies at Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta (2007) and pursued graduate studies at Muhammadiyah University Jakarta (2015).
His published works include:
* Bermula dari Rahim Cinta (Born from the Womb of Love, Yogyakarta, 2005)
* Republik Iblis (Republic of Devils, Yogyakarta, 2006)
* Samudra Cinta Ikan Paus (The Ocean of Love and the Whale, Bandung, 2013)
* Pacar Gelap Puisi (Poetry’s Secret Lover, Jakarta, 2016)
* Aku Adalah Peluru (I Am a Bullet, Jakarta, 2019)
* Geser Dikit Halaman Hatimu (Shift a Little, Page of Your Heart, Jakarta, 2019)
* Kepak Cinta Pengawal Langit (The Flutter of Love, Guardian of the Sky, Jakarta, 2021)
* Melukat Liang Luka (Purifying the Wounds, Jakarta, 2021)
* Tarada Cinta Selain Kau (No Love but You, Jakarta, 2025)
Bara has been an invited poet at international literary festivals, including:
* The International Gunung Bintan Literary Festival (2020)
* The Tegal Mas Island International Poetry Festival in Lampung (2021)
* In 2017, he collaborated with Najwa Shihab on the “Literacy for the Nation” agenda in Kupang and Lembata.
* He is the Founder of Rumah Poetica Kupang (2007) and Puitik Natur (2022).
/23/
When Night Asks the God
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Tonight, the sky whispers—
Who longs for eternity?
Who still clings to the world
when heaven’s gates are left ajar?
Gabriel spreads a veil of light,
draping the bodies in prostration,
erasing footprints of transgressions,
engraving names of those who return.
Prostration is not merely bowing—
it is the ark that sails the soul
across the currents of the ephemeral,
to find the hand of God,
ever waiting, ever near.
So, do not turn away before dawn,
do not let the heavens close again—
for tonight could be the end of ignorance
or the beginning of the promised eternity.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/24/
The Morning Sun’s Joyful Smile
A Poem by Mira Salsabila
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, Indonesian Literacy Movement Community]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
As I gaze upon the beauty of this morning,
I see the sun smiling at me, endlessly.
My spirit must not fade, must not vanish,
as I behold the world through the dawn’s gentle glow.
To You, O Ilahi Rabbi,
my soul sings gratitude with every breath bestowed.
This grace strengthens me,
guiding me through the wonders of this life.
To You, O Ilahi Rabbi,
my tongue whispers ceaseless praises.
The warmth of the morning sun
fuels my steps toward Your divine pleasure.
O, how I wish to always see
the morning sun’s radiant smile—
so my strength may grow,
so my spirit will never wither.
As radiant as the morning sun’s smile,
so too shall my soul blaze with passion,
rising, stepping forward,
embracing a life bathed in endless blessings.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA,
March 13th, 2025
——————————————-
Mira Salsabila, M.Pd. is an academic and writer born in Padang in 1983. Straddling the worlds of religion and literature, she built a strong intellectual foundation by earning two undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from IAIN Imam Bonjol Padang (2007) and a Bachelor’s in Islamic Religious Education from STAI Yastis Padang (2015).
Her dedication to religious studies earned her a scholarship from AGPAII West Sumatra, allowing her to pursue a Master’s degree at the Islamic University of Sumatra, which she completed in 2023. Currently, she is taking her academic journey even further by enrolling in a doctoral program in the same field through an alumni scholarship from Muhammadiyah University of Sumatra Barat, with her studies set to begin in 2025.
/25/
The Glow Behind the Dim Sorrow
A Poem by Sri Wahyu Ningsih
[PPIPM-Indonesia: Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations, Poetry-Pen International Community]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Everything flows as destined,
unwritten, unchained, yet certain.
Fate carves its own path.
A light glows beyond the hills,
casting a golden scent of dusk.
Shall I endure the endless trials,
the rugged roads, steep and winding?
They demand my strength,
forbid my weakness,
deny my surrender.
No fatigue shall break me,
no pain shall halt me,
for patience is my vessel,
and faith is my anchor.
To Him, I entrust all burdens.
Yet behind that glow,
sorrow lingers in silence.
Will these feet ever tread as before,
starting anew with solemn trust?
Yet the dusk has kissed the sun goodbye.
I believe beyond that sacred light,
happiness awaits you,
wrapped in the prayers we whisper.
Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, February 23, 2025
————————————-
Sri Wahyu Ningsih, S.Pd. is an educator in science at SMP Negeri 4 Payakumbuh, located in West Payakumbuh, West Sumatra. A devoted teacher and literary enthusiast, she weaves reflections of life, faith, and resilience into her poetic expressions.
/26/
Ramadhan Without You, Lia
A Poem by Muslimin
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
A father’s wail shatters the night,
tearing through the silence,
clawing at the moon,
ripping the heavens apart.
Regret carves his chest open,
as trembling hands grasp at nothing—
his beloved daughter has left,
following her mother to paradise.
Yet in her smile, she etches a wound,
a grief so vast,
his gaze turns empty,
his heart—adrift.
A year ago, she toiled at the election polls,
then left at dawn for the factory floor,
no rest, no respite.
The weight of days drained her,
sickness gnawed at her frame.
Yet only yesterday, she whispered:
“After Eid, I will work again, Father,
to help you, to help my little brother.”
But fate, unmerciful,
claimed her strength,
stole her breath,
turned her hopes into sorrow.
Oh Lord—
A father weeps at his failure,
for his negligence, his blindness.
She should never have struggled so hard.
He should have been there—
more,
always.
Now she is gone,
forever beyond his reach.
All he has left
is an embrace for her grave,
and regret too heavy for a lifetime.
Lamongan, East Java, March 12th, INDONESIA, 2025
————————————–
Muslimin, affectionately known as Cak Mus, was born in Lamongan in 1969. After completing his studies at SMAN 2 Lamongan, he pursued a degree in Indonesian Language at IKIP Negeri Surabaya. He has been an educator since 1991, teaching at various institutions including MTs A. Wahid Hasyim Tikung, SMP-SMA Tashwirul Afkar Sarirejo, and PKBM Mahayana. Actively involved in PERGUNU Lamongan and Lembaga Bahtsul Masail MWC NU Tikung, he blends his passion for literature with his dedication to education.
/27/
WOUNDS AND SINS
A Poem by Yusuf Achmad
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
I am the beast among the jungle of men,
A creature cloaked in sin, suffocating the soul.
I am the cunning shadow creeping in silence,
More cowardly than a specter fearing the sun.
An antagonist—not only on the silver screen of life,
But in the records of Nyamplungan, where lifeless things bear witness.
From my first breath to this weary adulthood,
My sins are etched eternally, piercing my conscience.
Especially to my father, oh, the pillar I have weakened.
I am ungrateful, sinking into the swamps of my own misdeeds.
More foolish than a lost animal,
My rigidity like the thorns of a cactus turned to wrath.
This sin, oh, it spreads like a creeping virus,
Choosing none, but striking a thousand souls.
A sin that grows like a cursed vine,
Untouched even by time’s relentless march.
Oh, Lord of All That Exists,
Is there still an open sky for this blackened soul seeking relief?
Can my repentance sail across the oceans of time,
When I have never bowed at his grave,
Ashamed before Nyamplungan, whose fingers keep turning,
Condemning me—I, who have now lost myself?
Surabaya, East Java,
INDONESIA, March 21st, 2025
——————————————-
Yusuf Achmad is an active writer and currently serves as the Principal of SMK SAINTREN Al-Hasan Surabaya. He is also the Chairman of the Association of Private Vocational High Schools (MKKS SMK Swasta) in Surabaya. His literary work is well known, particularly his poetry collection “Belanggur di Nyamplungan.”
/28/
NO RAMADAN WITHOUT LOVE
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
There is no Ramadhan without love,
for within its sacred hush,
fasting is the silence of longing,
a thirst that blooms into devotion,
like ancient roots aching for the sun.
And sujood—ah, sujood!—
it is the yearning that ascends,
a trembling whisper upon the lips of the sky.
There is no Ramadhan without love,
for every prayer is not mere speech,
but a lantern for the lost.
Every dhikr, not just a murmur,
but a river washing wounds
toward the ocean of mercy.
There is no Ramadhan without love,
for its nights are not mere darkness,
but the fabric of the heavens,
woven with threads of hope.
And its dawns—
not just the waking of the sun,
but the first step homeward,
back to the Light that never fades.
And when Ramadhan takes its leave,
it does not vanish into silence,
but lingers in the depths of our souls,
like a wind that hums of forgotten deserts,
like a flame that flickers in unseen corners,
never dying, never dimming,
only waiting to return.
Padang, West Sumatra,
INDONESIA, 2018
/29/
THE FAREWELL OF RAMADAN
A Poem by Anto Narasoma
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era]
Indonesian-English Translator:
Leni Marlina
★★★★★★★★★★★★
At the threshold of farewell, I stand in solitude,
as the echoes of longing rise with the wind.
O Beloved Month, you depart,
leaving my soul adrift in the tides of yearning,
the embers of devotion still smoldering,
but the fire of your presence now a distant glow.
For thirty nights, we dwelled in the gardens of mercy,
where sujud whispered secrets to the stars,
where hunger and thirst carved patience upon the heart,
where the gates of the unseen opened,
and the soul drank from wells of forgiveness.
Yet now, O Ramadan, you turn away,
your fragrance lingers in the hollow of my chest,
your light dims beyond the horizon of my sins.
How many tears must fall upon the earth
before it blossoms with the fruits of taqwa?
How many sighs will ascend to the heavens
before they weave into a robe of redemption?
O month of purity, you leave me trembling,
fearing the weight of passing days,
fearing that my time may wither before your return.
What if my soul is called before the next crescent rises?
What if the dawn of my repentance never finds its dusk?
O Ramadan, my heart follows your departing steps,
praying to meet you once more—
not in the fleeting embrace of this world,
but in the eternal gardens where parting is no more.
Senabung, South Sumatra,
INDONESIA
April 26th, 2023
——–‐——————————
Anto Narasoma is a national poet, senior journalist, and senior mentor of the PPIPM community. He is also a member of the Poetry-Pen International Community. In 2022, he received the Literary Award from the International Literary Association of Spain.
/30/
WOUNDS FORGIVEN
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen International Community, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Wounds arrive like unbidden guests,
knocking upon the rusted doors of the heart,
bearing memories like a barren desert,
where bitter springs lie buried in the soul’s depths.
Then Ramadan descends,
its light creeping through ancient walls,
seeking the cracks in forgotten grief.
Is this not the month where darkness dissolves in sujud?
Is this not the season where vengeance is shrouded,
returned to the earth with shadows that no longer reign?
So let the wounds return home,
not as swords that pierce,
but as winds that have lost their rage.
Let them slip into whispered prayers,
fade upon the prayer mat,
scatter like dust surrendering to the mercy of the breeze.
For in the end, forgiveness is not a celebration,
but a river that erases the line
between bitterness and peace.
At the twilight of this sacred month,
we are no longer ruins of sorrow
left to wither in silence,
but an ocean vast and forgiving,
where every river that once carried the wounds of this world
has been embraced and set free.
Padang, West Sumatra
INDONESIA, 2018
————————————-
Poetry collection no. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 was originally written bilingually (English-Indonesian) by Leni Marlina as a personal hobby and private poetry collection in 2013, during the final phase of her Master of Writing and Literature program (Literary Studies, Creative Writing & Children’s Literature) in Australia, funded by the Indonesian government.
These poems were later revised and gradually published digitally for the first time in 2025.
Leni Marlina is an active member of the Indonesian Writers Association (SATU PENA), West Sumatra Chapter, since its establishment in 2022, as well as the Indonesian AI Creator Community. She is also an active member of the International Poets and Writers Community ACC in Shanghai, and since 2024, she has been appointed as Indonesia’s Poetry Ambassador for the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association.
She was previously involved with the Victoria’s Writers Association in Australia and, since 2006, has dedicated herself as a lecturer at the Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang.
Beyond her academic role, Leni has founded and led various digital communities and initiatives focused on literature, language, education, and social movements, including:
1. World Children’s Literature Community (WCLC): https://shorturl.at/acFv1
2. Poetry-Pen International Community
3. PPIPM (Pondok Puisi Inspirasi Pemikiran Masyarakat)-Indonesia, the Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations: https://shorturl.at/2eTSB; https://shorturl.at/tHjRI
4. Starcom Indonesia Community (Starmoonsun Edupreneur Community Indonesia):
https://rb.gy/5c1b02
5. Linguistic Talk Community
6. Literature Talk Community
7. Translation Practice Community
8. English Languange Learning, Literacy, Literary Community (EL4C)
